Traffic shift starts today on eastern portion of bypass

Beginning today, traffic will be permanently shifted onto a newly built bridge and roadway of U.S. 13 between A&K Farm Road and Saulston Road.

The new road and bridge are part of the U.S. 70 Bypass section that connects Wayne Memorial Drive north of Goldsboro and U.S. 70 just east of Promise Land Road in LaGrange.

A $104.4 million design-build contract was awarded to Barnhill Contracting Co. for this 12.5-mile section of the bypass. Interchanges are being built at U.S. 13, Parkstown Road and U.S. 70. This section is scheduled to be completed by July 2015.

The U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass is a three-part project estimated to cost $246 million.

Once complete, the 20-mile bypass will connect U.S. 70 from just west of N.C. 581 in Wayne County to U.S. 70 just east of Promise Land Road.

The first 3.9-mile section of the bypass between I-795 and Wayne Memorial Drive, designated as N.C. 44, opened to traffic in December 2011.

Once the east and west sections are also complete, this section will be resigned as the U.S. 70 Bypass.

Meanwhile, work continues on the 5.9-mile western section of the Bypass.

A $62.4 million contract was awarded in July 2012 for the four-lane divided highway, which goes from U.S. 70 west of Goldsboro to I-795.